Malaysia's former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has reportedly decided to rejoin the country's ruling party after being wooed by senior UMNO figures.
Mahathir, 82, retired as PM after 22 years in office in 2003. He dramatically left the United Malay National Organization on May 19th, 2008, after openly and repeatedly criticising the performance of his successor, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The Star newspaper reported that the retired premier is throwing his support behind a former rival, Gua Musang MP, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is vying for the post of UMNO president in the party’s internal elections in December.
The national daily said it received its information from former UMNO secretary-general Tan Sri Sabaruddin Chik, who was at a private meeting at Mahathir’s Cyberjaya residence on Saturday.
It quoted Sabaruddin as saying Mahathir’s return to UMNO had been the sole focus of the meeting, which was also attended by UMNO vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Razaleigh and former secretary-general Tan Sri Sanusi Junid.
Sabaruddin stated that he and Muhyiddin, who is also Trade and Industry Minister, went along to the gathering with the intention of returning the former prime minister to the party fold.
The minister’s presence at the meeting has fuelled speculation over whether Mahathir intends to run with Razaleigh for the party’s two top posts, a prospect Sabaruddin neither confirmed nor denied.
In stepping down, Mahathir had said he would not return to the party until there was a leadership change.
However, according to Sabaruddin this new development should not come as a shock.
“Why is it surprising that Dr Mahathir wishes to rejoin UMNO? He only wants to save UMNO and the Barisan Nasional.”
The decision on readmission rests on the party’s supreme council.
There has been no direct comment from Dr Mahathir on the claims.
There has been no direct comment from Dr Mahathir on the claims.
MSN Malaysia
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